Favorite Toys for our 2 year old daughter

Edited:
I wrote this post over 4 years ago but apparently never published it. So here it is! Late like I always am in Real Life...

As Sweetness just turned 2 It's time for me to make another Blog post about our favorite toys/non toys. Sweetness is really enjoying Playing pretend a lot, and is potty training as well. Both of which make toys and books so much more fun and interesting than before.  So Without further ado...

Favorite Toys:

1.) Shopping cart- We have the metal Mellisa and Doug one and it gets played with daily. Her stuffed toys, babies, and random objects go for rides and get pushed around. When my little Sibs are over they love to make a "train" between the cart and the next toy and run laps around the kitchen table. If she could convince the cat I'm sure Ju-Ju would get pushed around too! lol 

2.) Stroller- Sweetness got an inexpensive doll stroller for christmas from her Grammy. I've made a new sling seat for it becasue she liked to sit in it and scoot it around and as such she wore it out. It also get's played with almost every day. And also get's pretty much everything to ride in it.

3.) The cat's teaser toy- We have one with a wire string and a furry "mouse" on the end of a wand. It was purchased at Petsmart and Her favorite thing is to daily run up and down the hallway with it and the cat following.





4.) Balls- small, big, soft, squishy, or bouncy. It doesn't matter. She loves them.
















5.) Green Toys Build-a-Bouquet Floral Arrangement Playset- This was another Christmas gift and she loves it! I hate picking it up so the new rule is she has to clean it up before we get something else out. It's made from recycled plastic and is very easy to build and take apart since the piece just nest. Great for building flower towers then knocking down. 

6.) Lionel- Well he's actually the Cloud B Gentle Giraffe sound machine thing in travel size, but we call him Lionel. He's traveled with us to New york, NC, California, Georgia and all kinds of other random playdates and such. He is awesome. Getting a little matted and I have had to repair a hole in the neck once all ready. but we love him and need him every.single.night.

7.) Cloub B Turtle- She's just recently liked this. But it also must be on every.night.

8.) Pepper- She got Pepper For christmas. Our kitty who looked very much like her ran away and that kitty was also named pepper and Sweetness's buddy. I think that may have had something to do with the attachment. But nonetheless, I bought a second since pepper got carted around so much I was afraid she would get lost. Now we have Pepper and "Other Pepper".

9.) Baby doll- Doesn't matter what kind. She has 3. all different kinds. They all get mothered, carried around, taken to the potty, put to bed, and fed.

10.) A Phone/like object- Can be a toy or real if she can swipe it. Also random objects that are shaped like phones. Calculators, t.v. remotes, etc.

11.) Bead Maze- This is mostly used while sitting on the potty but she does that daily so it counts.



I've also included our few favorite books at the moment.


Books:
1.) Curious George and the Puppies- Got this a khols along with a stuffed George and I've read it at least twice a day.
But not the hippopatomus
Potty training books

DVDS:
Baby Signing Time
It's Potty Time

My beleifs and who I am.

For those who are recently reading my Blog(or are new facebook friends)You should be warned now.
I know what I beleive and have strong opinions. Before I get to that though I want to let you know what I believe and why.

First I am christian. This is important as it shapes a lot of my beliefs. I beleive that we were created and the earth and all the animals by God.
As such I beleive that god made us perfect, then after the fall of man in genesis we became sinful. As such We are a sinful people.
I do not place one sin above another. As God says they are all equal. Due to this I have strong views on things deemed "sinful" by the Bible.
This includes but isn't limited to: Stealing, adultry, murder, lying, and homosexuality to name a few.
I also beleive that it is possible to care about a person and disagree with something in their lifestyle or personal decisions they've made. How many of us have family we love but that has done something we disagree with? Weather it's something as simple as who they date, where they choose to live, how they raise their kids, or as big as living a homosexual lifestyle it doesn't mean we can't love that family member.
As a Christian I'm instructed to love ALL humans. And as such it's the same thing for me.

I also believe women where created to birth babies naturally. And that we were also created to be able to feed them naturally with the breasts we were born with.
There is only a very tiny percentage of women who CAN'T nurse. Of course we all know many who "weren't able to" and sadly many of them were "booby trapped" either through their environment, a well meaning pediatrician/family member, lack of emotional or physical support,  or many other things.
I don't judge these women. It was not their fault. They did what they could. I don't judge those who use formula either. Because I am also a firm believer that women and families should have the right to choose how to raise their children, and that starts with where they give birth, how they give birth, who they choose to see(if at all) for their families care, and how they feed thier children.
This also extends into their right to choose to vaccinate or not, and homeschool, or unschool, or whatever.
As a parent I think those choices and everything in between belong to the parents and should stay that way.
However I am also pro life, and pro adoption. I beleive that it is NOT our right to choose to terminate life. to me it is murder. As such I will post pro life posts to my page.
While I am all for women's right to choose many things, What about baby's right to life? Anywho I won't argue the details of this here that's another post for another day.

You will see boobs on my facebook page, becasue I beleive in normalizing breastfeeding.
You will see posts about homosexuality on my page, as well as natural childbirth, vaccinations(I'm personally anti vaccinations but that's just me),  carseat safety facts, potty training info, baby led weaning, babywearing, CIO, Anti CIO, Positive discipline, Natural consequences, and so much more.

I have lots of links and research to back up my beliefs. I have scripture to back up my spiritual beliefs. If you don't agree that's fine with me. But my page is for my thoughts. As yours is for yours. Civil disagreements are fine, discussion is encouraged, but outright rudeness won't be tolerated. And I will delete comments as I see fit.

This goes for my blog too. ;)

The potty training journey part 1

We started potty training on Monday April 1st. (Also my birthday) ;)
We decided after much thought and consideration and recommendations from others to go with "Oh Crap , Potty Training" for our "method".
The process makes total sense and every part I've read so far is logical and well thought out.
You basically are working in phases/blocks/stages whatever you want to call them rather than days.
Phase 1: naked (at least from the waist down) the goal is to get baby to sit on the potty and hopefully pee. Bonus points if they tell you when they need to go but not nessicary.
Phase 2: commando aka no diaper or undies just a dress, skirt, or pants. You use a diaper during naps and nighttime (unless you decide to night train too).
Phase 3: commando with outings.

Eventually baby starts telling you when they need to go but at first and for a bit you are prompting and taking them.

This is where we are at.
I have been so impressed with Sweetness as we travel this process. She's gone from clueless to I peed to I'm peeing fast. And most of the time at the I'm peeing stage.
I've learned her "potty dance" and she can stay dry for short outings so long as we do regular potty breaks. Her bladder is very small after all.

I really like that the author focus's on the positives not the negatives, that the potty training isn't reward or shame based and that it just focus's on teaching. No pressure just easy.

So far so good. I'm impressed. I'll keep you posted on our progress and how we are doing every little bit.